Two-part self-discharging wire



Sept. 9, 1969 w. J. GILMORE ET AL 3,465,743

TWO PART SELF-DISCHARGING WIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 5, 1963INVENTORS WILLIAM J. GILMORE VINCENT G.J. PETERSON .1 Ma IBEMMWLIATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1969 w, J GILMORE ET AL 3,465,743

TWO PART SELF-DISCHARGING WIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5, 1963 Em SR S ROE V. OU I E TL: N N R E I 0 V T N c 7 T T A v N ME -c NY u B WV wOK P 1969 w. J. GILMORE ET AL 3,465,743

TWO PART SELF'DISCHARGING WIRE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 5 1963INVENTORS WILLIAM J. GILMORE VINCENT C.J. PETERSON BY /M- 22.. A,M,Z7-6q ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,465,743 TWO-PART SELF-DISCHARGINGWIRE William J. Gilmore, Manitou Beach, Mich., and Vincent C. J.Peterson, Huntingdon Valley, Pa., assignors to American Chain & CableCo. Inc., New York, N.Y., a

corporation of New York Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.274,896,

Apr. 17, 1963, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.203,979, June 20, 1962. This application Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 307,284

Int. Cl. F41h 11/10; F41b 7/00 U.S. Cl. 124-18 13 Claims Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of our prior application, Ser. No.274,896, filed Apr. 17, 1963, now abandoned, which is in turn acontinuation-in-part of our application Ser. No. 203,979, filed June 20,1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to both a product and a method in the art ofpacking self-dischargeable wire. The product of the invention relates inparticular to a helically wrapped package of flat wire capable offorcibly twisting longitudinally throughout its length so that whendesired it can hurl itself rapidly outwardly under the cumulativeimpulse of its own released elastic energy. The method of the inventionrelates in particular to passing a flat wire between spaced pairs ofrolls, one of which is revolved to twist the section of wire between thepairs of rolls longitudinally, then rendering the twist resilientlypermanent, and finally helically wrapping the twisted wire under tensionflat about acore.

The chief purpose of this-invention is the provision of a helicallywrapped coil or package of flat wire in which is stored sufiicientenergy to permit the wire to unwind itself until virtually linearlyoutwardly with considerable force until virtually the full length hasbeen payed out. This characteristic renders the new package ofsubstantial advantage for a wide range of uses which will be fullyapparent from the following detailed description. It can serve wherevera line must be thrown out between spaced points; for example where aheave line is to be cast from a ship, where a cable is to be drawnthrough an extended conduit, or where a wire rope is to span a body ofwater at the start of a bridge-building operation. The new flat wirepackage can discharge itself between the spaced points and then thecable or rope can be hauled across by the flat Wire.

In this process of self-propulsion, the flat wire arches out coaxiallyfrom the center of the package and if its generally linear travel isinterrupted by an obstruction it will pile up into an entangled mass.Hence, the package can also be used to erect a barrier not unlike abarbed wire emplacement.

The flat cross section of the wire in this package is an improvedfeatures of primary importance in the new product because the inventionrequires that as the Wire discharges it should exhibit an elastic changein shape whereby the cylindrical configuration of each successiveconvolution rotates into a longitudinally twisted configuration about anaxis coincident with the center line of the wire so that the faces ofthe wire define helical surfaces. This is a notable advantage over roundwire particularly when the package is to be used to form an entangledobstacle similar to a barbed wire emplacement. A sharp knife edge orseries of barb-like serrations can 3,465,743 Patented Sept. 9, 1969easily be formed continuously along one or both edges of a fiat wire,whereas with a round wire it is far more difiiuclt if not practicallyimpossible. Once such serrations are formed on a fiat wire they too canlie flat in the wound coil without hooking onto adjacent turns, whereashooks or barbs attached to a round section will catch onto adjacentturns and pull snarls of wire from the package during discharge. Inaddition resilient spaced barbs may be located along the opposed facesof two or more strips superimposed one over the other to constitute alaminated form of the flat wire, and still avoid snarling during thewrapping and discharging operations.

Broadly stated, the new package of self-dischargeable wire comprises anextended length of flat wire helically wrapped into a multi-layeredcylindrical winding with a plurality of helical turns in each layer.This winding is preferably initially formed about a collapsible corewhich may be retained in the package. The flat wire in the winding ischaracterized in that it is possessed of considerable stored elasticenergy tending forcibly to produce a longitudinal twist in the wireabout an axis extending therewithin so that the surfaces of wire definehelical surfaces. Restraining means are provided for holding the windingin its cylindrical form and containing the stored elastic energy in thefiat wire. Means are also included for selectively disabling at leastpart of the restraining means (for example, means for collapsing thecollapsible core) to permit the flat wire forcibly to produce theabove-mentioned twist in itself progressively from one end to the other.When thus freed, the fiat wire hurls itself rapidly outwardly under thecumulative impulse of its own released energy.

Because of the elastically suppressed resiliently permanent helicaltwist in the fiat wire within the package, and also because the wire isflat-wrapped into a multilayered cylindrical winding with a plurality ofhelical turns in each layer, this progressive release of the flat wiresstored elastic energy from one end to the other causes it to fly almostinstantaneously from the package at typical speeds of about forty milesper hour through a distance of perhaps eighty feet or more. It issurprising, and quite advantageous, that in this rapid self-dischargethe flat wire runs out from the package in a markedly linear manner, notunlike a stream of water, but if its linear progress is interrupted itwill build up at that point into an entangled mass.

It has been known heretofore to provide packages of wire which may bereleased of contained elastic energy to form something of an entangledmass, but the wire in such packages is spirally wound and tends tounwind spirally in the manner of a clock spring. No such prior artdevice has been capable of anything like the degree of cumulativereleased energy characteristic of the product of this invention, nor canthey discharge their wire linearly outwardly between widely spacedpoints in any manner similar to the progressive cumulative propulsion ofwire characteristic of the present package.

In accordance with the invention, the new package may also include aunique laminated form of the flat wire which is helically wrapped intothe multi-layered cylindrical winding. Such a flat wire comprises atleast first and second flat strips separably superimposed compressivelytogether in the winding. A plurality of elements on at least this firststrip are resiliently flattened by the second strip in the winding andtend to spring outwardly from the first strip. In a specific form ofthis embodiment, the plurality of elements may be spaced longitudinallyalong the wire with alternate elements attached to the respective firstand second strips, so that each element tends to spring outwardly fromthe strip to which it is attached toward the opposite strip. Eachelement may further be pointed at its outer end and barbed along itsedges.

The method of the invention for making a package of self-dischargeableflat wire broadly comprises the following sequence of steps. A flat wireis passed between a first pair of opposed rolls and then between atleast one other pair of opposed rolls spaced from the first pair. Thisother pair of opposed rolls is revolved a predetermined number ofrevolutions with respect to the first pair, thereby imparting alongitudinally twisted configuration to the section of the flat wirebetween the pairs of rolls about an axis extending within the wire sothat the faces of the wire define helical surfaces. The revolved pair ofopposed rolls is then secured against further revolution, and thetwisted configuration in the section of the flat wire between the pairsof rolls is rendered resiliently permanent. Thereafter, the wire isforcibly Withdrawn from the above-mentioned other pair of rolls and atthe same time restrained from returning fully to its resilientlypermanent configuration. Finally, the withdrawn fiat wire is helicallywrapped under applied tension about a rotatable non-revolvable core toform a multi-layered cylindrical winding with a plurality of helicalturns in each layer.

Wherever the term revolvable or variations thereof is used in thefollowing description and claims, it is intended to distinguish from theterm rotatable or variations thereof. In its present usage, rotatablemeans that a member turns about an axis (usually its longest axis ofsymmetry) in the manner of a shaft, whereas revolvable means that thataxis of rotation of the member turns end-over-end in the manner of atwirling baton. Also, the term fiat wire as used herein has reference toits fiat cross section, whether such wire is longitudinally fiat orlongitudinally twisted, or whether of a single strip or laminatedconstruction, unless otherwise noted.

It is not unknown to impart a resiliently permanent longitudinal twistto a flat wire which is somewhat similar in general configuration tothat effected in the above-described method of the invention. However,this has never been done to prepare the wire for later storage ofconsiderable elastic energy. It also is not unknown to package suchconventional twisted flat wire by winding it into a spirally-wrappedpancake-type coil about an ordinary rigid core. However, these practiceshave absolutely nothing to do with a method of making a helicallywrapped package of fiat wire capable of forcibly twisting longitudinallythroughout its length so that it can hurl itself rapidly outwardly underthe cumulative impulse of its own released energy. Thus, the new methodis either evolved from nor does it share any related mode of op erationwith those known spirally-wrapped pancake-type coils of fiat wire whichmay twist with inconsequential force into a helical configuration afterbeing payed off their reel by some exterior force in a conventionalmanner. To the best of our knowledge, it has never been thought ofheretofore to store energy in a fiat Wire package by fiat-wrapping in ahelical form an otherwise permanently twisted fiat wire in accordancewith the method of this invention. And, of course, the art has been evenless aware that as a result of such method of storing elastic energy ina package it is possible to produce a device of the new type which iscapable of hurling its fiat Wire outwardly at great speed and through aconsiderable distance under the cumulative impulse of its own releasedenergy.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is an enlargedfragmentary section of a barbededge flat Wire of one type suitable forthe new package;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration, not in scale, showing one sequenceof steps to be followed in the practice of the new method;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the new package discharging its wire inuse;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration, also not in scale, showing anothersequence of steps to be followed in carrying out the method ofinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration, also not in scale, showing asequence of steps similar to those of FIG. 4 to be followed in making adifferent embodiment of the new package wherein two superimposed stripsform the flat wire;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one resiliently barbedstrip used in carrying out the method of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section, distorted somewhat for purposes ofclarity, of the FIG. 6 strips superimposed into a flat wire inaccordance with the FIG. 5 method;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing another form of theresiliently barbed strip;

FIG. 9 is another view similar to FIG. 6 showing a further form of theresiliently barbed strip; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration, not in scale, showing anothersequence of strips to be followed in the practice of the new method.

A flat wire 10 is required for the new package. It may advantageously beof high-carbon spring steel, perhaps about one quarter of an inch wideand cut from .025 inch thick rolled stock. As shown in FIG. 1, aserrated cutting edge 11 may be provided along one longitudinal side ofthe flat Wire 10 when the package is to form a kind of barbed-wirebarrier or obstacle. As noted previously, this is a feature which cannotfor all practical purposes be present if round wire is used in thepackage because a knife edge or integral barbs cannot readily be formedalong a length of round wire. Also, any separate barbs or hooks attachedto a round wire could not lie fiat in a coil, as the serrations 11 onthe flat wire 10 can, and would hook onto adjacent turns duringdischarge to snarl the round wire completely.

Referring to FIG. 2, the method of the invention can be carried out inone of its more basic forms by initially passing one end of anindefinite length of the flat wire 10, in a quenched and temperedcondition, through a first pair of opposed idling rolls 12. In practice,the rolls 12, and all other idling rolls hereafter mentioned, may begrooved about their periphery to insure that the flat wire remainsproperly positioned between them. After leaving the first pair ofopposed rolls 12, the leading end of the flat wire 10 is then directedto and passed between a second pair of similar opposed idling rolls 13which are aligned with and spaced from the first pair.

When the leading end of the flat wire 10 is gripped between andprotrudes from the second pair of opposed rolls 13, those rolls arerevolved in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 by means of somesuitable frame 14 upon which they are rotatably mounted. The number ofsuch revolutions of the pair of opposed rolls 13 on the frame 14 issufiicient to twist a section 10A of the flat wire 10 between the pairsof rolls 12 and 13 as shown in the drawing. The twisted configurationthereby imparted to the section 10A of the flat wire consists of anumber of helices, each typically about two and one-half inches long forthis illustrative wire. This results in plastic deformation of the fiatwire 10 in its section 10A so that if its leading end were released itwould form a succession of helical twists each about six inches long. Itis characteristic of this twisted configuration that it is formed aboutan axis coincident with the center line of the fiat wire so that thefaces of the flat wire define helical surfaces. Such a twisted shape isto be distinguished from the helix of a flat-wire spring which is formedabout an axis not coincident with any line in the wire and in which thefaces of the wire define cylindrical, and not helical, surfaces.

After the resiliently permanent helical twist has been put to thesection A of the flat wire in this manner by revolving the second pairof opposed rolls 13, the frame 14 supporting those rolls is securedagainst further revolution. The leading end of the fiat wire 10 is thenpulled from the pair of opposed rolls 13 under considerable tension andis connected to the circumference of a driven rotatable non-revolvablecollapsible core 15 spaced from the pair of rolls 13. The tension underwhich the flat wire 10 is thus pulled to the core 15 restrains it fromreturning fully to its resiliently permanent twisted configurationimparted by the plastic deformation in the section 10A of the flat wire.Consequently, the flat wire tends to snap into its helical shape (of sixinch pitch helices in this example) between the pair of opposed rolls 13and the core 15 but it is prevented from doing so. The core 15 is thencontinuously driven to wrap the flat wire 10 helically about itscircumference. Suitable indexing means are provided to direct the flatwire 10 back and forth along the length of the core 15 to form amulti-layered cylindrical winding with a plurality of helicalside-by-side turns in each layer in face-to-face engagement with theturns in the adjoining layer.

Considerable advantage is to be gained from locating the core 15 withrespect to the opposed pair of rolls 13 such that the tensionedwithdrawn flat wire engages the circumference of the core (andeventually the circumference of the winding) substantially at a pointalong the flat wire removed from the pair of rolls 13 where the lateralcross section of the tensioned flat wire assumes an orientationsubstantially parallel to the axis of the core without further appliedforces. It will be understood that no matter how forcefully the fiatwire 10 is pulled from the opposed pair 13 of rolls, its resilientlypermanent twist will still tend to turn some of its increments of lengthabout its center line. Depending upon the wrapping tension and theforcefulness of the tendency of the strip to return to its twistedshape, the flat wire 10 will naturally attempt to assume a helical twistof a pitch considerably longer than the exemplary six inch pitch whichit would otherwise assume if its outer end were entirely free. We havediscovered that if the core 15 is positioned with respect to the rolls13 so that the flat wire first engages the circumference of the core (orwinding) tangentially at a point along the flat wire where its lateralcross section naturally assumes an orientation parallel to the coreaxis, the flat wire will initially lay down in face-to-face engagementwith the core (or winding) as it begins each new convolution withoutbeing forcibly curled down into such engagement. This avoids any loss ofelastic memory which would otherwise occur if the increment of the flatwire 10 at first tangential engagement with the core (or winding) tendedto twist up at that point. The ultimate benefit of this selectedpositioning of the core 15 is thatthe throwing force on the flat wirefrom the package is at a maximum when put in use.

To better insure that the tensioned withdrawn flat wire 10 will engagethe circumference of the core or winding at this particular point, onehalf of a long twist (of 180) is permitted in the fiat wire 10 betweenthe pair of opposed rolls 13 and the point of contact with the core 15(or winding). If more than one such half twist is provided, the coreshould be moved away from the pair 13 of opposed rolls to a point wherethe twist ends at 360 (or 540, or 720, etc.), or if no such twist isprovided the core 15 should be moved immediately adjacent the pair ofopposed rolls 13.

After the desired number of layers are developed in the helical windingabout the core 15 to form a package 17, the trailing end of the flatwire 10 is anchored to the winding or an outer wrapping is applied aboutthe package, and the package is removed from its driving apparatus. Thisanchorage of the trailing end of the flat wire 10 or the provision of anouter wrapping constitutes outer containing means for holding thewinding in its cylindrical form around the core 15 and containing thestored elastic energy in the flat wire. Another advantage of the newflat wire package over round wire is that the layers in the former donot always require end-containment by means of flanges on thecollapsible core. Layers of round wire do, however, because they couldotherwise loosen if their uucontained end convolutions slipped out ofthe body of the coil.

When the new package 17 is to be used, it is held with its axis pointingin the desired direction of discharge. The core is then collapsed toremove the inner containing force on the inside circumference of thewinding. When this is done, what had been the leading end of the flatwire 10 forcibly and instantaneously snaps itself into its inherentexemplary six inch twist, and this release of stored energy dischargesthat leading end outwardly in the direction of the packages axis. As aresult, additional convolutions of the flat wire 10 fly from the insideof the package and each progressively rotates into its twisted form. Inthis process, the effect of the released energy in the progressivelylengthening discharged fiat wire is cumulative and it throws the alreadytwisted discharged portion even further from the package in thedirection of the packages axis. All this occurs with extreme rapidityand with considerable force so that the package disgorges its fulllength of the wire 10 very quickly at speeds typically about forty milesper hour through a distance of about eighty feet or more.

Typical discharge of fiat wire from a package 18 formed in accordancewith the invention is shown in FIG. 3. The flat Wire arches through theair, much like a stream of water from a nozzle, until its progress isinterrupted or its full length is expended. If such interruption occurswell within the maximum range of the device, the flat wire will pile upto form an entanglement as shown at 19.

Referring now to FIG. 4, another sequence of steps is illustrated forcarrying out the new method. In this embodiment, a fiat wire 20 is inthe as-rolled condition when it is directed initially between a firstpair of opposed idling rolls 21. The fiat Wire 20 is then passed througha high-frequency induction heating coil 22, then through a continuousoil-quenching station 23, and next to a second pair of opposed idlingrolls 24 which are revolvable on a frame 25. After leaving the secondpair of rolls 24, the wire 20 is passed through a tube furnace 26 andthen enters between a third pair of opposed idling rolls 27 mounted on arevolvable frame 28.

Before the continuous process starts, the second pair of rolls 24 isrevolved a sufficient number of turns to impart the desired over-twistin a section 20A of the flat wire between the first and second pairs ofrolls 21 and 24, as described with reference to the FIG. 1 embodiment.Then (or at the same time) the third pair of opposed rolls 27 arerevolved twice as many times as the second pair of rolls 24, so that anidentical twist is imparted to a section 20B of the wire between thesecond and third pairs of rolls 24 and 27. This imparts a longitudinallytwisted configuration of equal pitch and direction in the two sections20A and 20B of the flat wire 20 between the three pairs of rolls. Theframes 25 and 28 are then locked to hold that twist, and the leading endof the wire 20 is directed and attached to the circumference of a core29 spaced from the third pair of opposed rolls 27.

Again, the position of the core 29 with respect to the opposed pair ofrolls 27 is such that the withdrawn flat wire is engaged with thecircumference of the core 29 (or the winding thereon) at a point wherethe lateral cross-section of the tensioned flat wire 20 assumes anorientation substantially parallel to the axis of the core 29 withoutfurther applied forces. The resulting advantages are precisely the sameas those achieved by the above-described positioning of the core in theFIG. 1 embodiment. Also, a half twist (of 180) may be permitted betweenthe opposed pair of rolls 27 and this particular point of engagementwith the core 29 (or the winding thereon).

As the core 29 is driven, it pulls the flat wire 20 through thesuccessive stages of the FIG. 4 method. Thus, the flat wire is initiallytwisted in the section 20A, and in that section it is heated above itscritical temperature by means of the induction coil 22. Then this heatedtwisted portion is subjected to oil-quenching at the station 23 stillwithin the section 20A. This produces a brittle and hard as quenchedmaterial which is tempered when it passes through the tube furnace 26 inthe next section 20B, and as a consequence, the twisted configuration ofthe flat wire 20 is rendered resiliently permanent. Thus, when it iswrapped fiat about the core 29 to form a package 30, it is possessed ofconsiderable stored energy tending forcibly to produce a longitudinaltwist in the flat wire about an axis coincident with its center line sothat the faces of the wire define helical surfaces.

This FIG. 4 embodiment of the method has the advantage of being fullyself-contained so that it can be carried out immediately at the outletend of a rolling mill where flat sheet is cut to width and perhapsserrated along one edge. The operation and effect of the package 30 areidentical to those of the package described with reference to FIG. 2.

It is fully contemplated, of course, that many variations can be made inthese particular embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, it is possible, though not entirely practical,to revolve the first pair of rolls 12 in the FIG. 2 embodiment ratherthan the second opposed pair 13 as described; this applies equally tothe FIG. 4 embodiment. Also, additional revolvable pairs of rolls may beincluded, and they may impart a progressively tighter twist to the flatwire rather than the equal twist in the successive sections described inreference to FIG. 4.

Turning now to FIGS. to 9, other forms of the new package are shownwherein elements such as pointed prongs can project outwardly from theface, as opposed to the edges as in FIG. 1, of the wire after it hasbeen discharged in the manner described. FIG. 5 schematicallyillustrates the basic method of making these embodiments of the package,and since it is identical to the FIG. 2 method except for the form ofthe flat wire its characteristic steps and means for effecting them willbe described only briefly. (It will further be evident that the FIG. 4method is applicable to the fabrication of these FIGS. 5 to 9embodiments.)

Indefinite lengths of a first strip 31 and a second strip 32 are drawnfrom respective supply sources (not shown in FIG. 5) and superimposedone over the other between a first pair of idling rolls 33. Each stripmay be of highcarbon spring steel in a quenched and tempered condition.When the strips 31 and 32 are superimposed between the rolls 33, theyform in effect a fiat wire 35 of laminated construction which is thendirected to a second pair of similar opposed idling rolls 36. The rolls36 are revolved on a frame 37 to twist a section 35A of the laminatedfiat wire 35 between the pairs of rolls 33 and 36. This plasticallydeforms the section 35A of the laminated fiat wire as described inreference to FIG. 2. Thereafter, the frame 37 is secured against furtherrevolution and the lead end of the laminated flat wire 35 is pulledunder considerable tension to a rotatable core 39. Indexing means areprovided to direct the flat wire 35 along the core 39 to form amulti-layered cylindrical winding with a plurality of helicalside-by-side turns in each layer in face-to-face engagement with theturns in the adjoining layers. The core 39 may be located with respectto the second pair of idling rolls 36 and 37, and the length of thelaminated flat Wire 35 may undergo a half-turn, as described inreference to FIG. 2. The helical winding developed about the core 39forms a package 40 which can be released to discharge the laminated flatwire 35 outwardly under the cumulative effect of its own releasedenergy, all in the manner described in regard to the package 17 of FIG.2 except for certain additional fea tures described below.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second strips 31 and 32 which make upthe laminated flat wire 35 include a plurality of elements 42 spacedlongitudinally along the centerline of each strip. One form of theseelements is shown in FIG. 6 and it comprises a small piece of highcarbonspring steel cut from fiat sheet with two pointed portions 43 extendingin opposite directions longitudinally with respect to its respectivestrip, for example the strip 32. In the unrestrained condition of theelement 42 shown in FIG. 6, the pointed portions 43 extend outwardlyfrom the face of the strip 32 at an appreciable angle so that the pointsare in a markedly exposed position. The element 42 is attached to thestrip 32 by a pair of spot welds 44 in its central portion between thepointed portions 43. A plurality of these elements 42 may be welded toeach of the strips 31 and 32.

When the strips 31 and 32 are superimposed together between the firstpair of idling rolls 32 and 33 to form the laminated fiat wire 35, theelements 42 on the respective strips 31 and 32 assume alternately spacedpositions between the strips and their pointed portions 43 areresiliently flattened, as shown in FIG. 7 (which, for clarity, indicatesthe strips and interposed elements to be thicker than they would be inpractice). Thus, in the FIG. 7 condition the first and second strips 31and 32 are separably superimposed compressively together and theresiliently flattened pointed portions 43 of each element 42 tend tospring outwardly toward the opposite strip. The flat wire 35 remains inthis laminated condition shown in FIG. 7 throughout the twistingoperation in its section 35A and its winding operation about the core39. When the core 39 is collapsed and the fiat wire 35 hurls itselfoutwardly under the cumulative impulse of its own released energy asdescribed in reference to the previous embodiments, the first and secondstrips 31 and 32 separate to allow the pointed portions 43 of theelements 42 to spring outwardly into the angularly projecting positionshown in FIG. 6. As a result, the new package of self-dischargeable wirecan be used to lay a very effective barbed entanglement.

Some variations which may be made in the FIGS. 5 to 7 embodiment areshown in FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 8, a strip 46, which may serve as one ofthe strips constituting the laminated flat wire 35, is partly cut out at47 so that pointed portions 49 may constitute the pointed elements.These pointed portions 49 are resiliently flattened during winding inthe same manner as the pointed portions 43 of the elements 42, but theydiffer principally in that they lie within the plane of their strip 46when resiliently flattened. Thus, the laminated flat wire which two ofthese strips 46 form is thinner than that shown in FIG. 7 to the extentthat the pointed portions 49 and 50 do not occupy space between thestrips.

In FIG. 9, a strip 52 is shown equipped with a welded element 53 similarto the element 42 of FIG. 6 except that a plurality of hook-like barbs54 are formed along each edge of the resilient pointed portions. Thesebarbs 54, which may also be formed on the pointed portions 49 and 50 inthe FIG. 8 embodiment, increase the snagging ability of an entanglementlaid down by the package. The snagging effect may be further increasedby in cluding sidewardly-extending barbs along the edges of any one ofthe strips 31, 32, 46 or 52 in the manner described in reference toFIG. 1. Also, more than two of any of these strips may be superimposedone over the other in forming a laminated fiat wire, so that when theseveral strips separate during discharge an increasingly greater numberof pointed portions or barbs are present in theresulting entanglement.When more than two strips are superimposed in this manner the innerstrips of the lamination may have pointed elements extending from bothfaces thereof.

In all of these forms shown in FIGS. to 9, the laminated fiat wire 35made up of the superimposed strips has an ordinary smooth outer surfacewhile it is being twisted in the section 35A and after it is helicallywrapped in the winding 40. Therefore, for purposes of forming andoperating the self-dischargeable package of FIGS. 5 to 9, it issubstantially identical in all respects to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to4, both as to its advantages and its variations. It is the barbedentangling effect of the FIGS. 5 to 9 embodiments which differ from thatpreviously discussed, and this advantage results from the laminated formof the fiat wire which compresses the resilient elements between itsrespective strips.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a modified sequence of steps is schematicallyillustrated which avoids a certain effect in the foregoing forms of themethod where two strips are brought together into a laminated flat wire.In the FIG. 5 method, it happens in some instances that the strip 32 onthe inside of the turns in the package 40 tends to buckle because thecompressive forces applied to it cannot be relieved by any slidingaction between the strips 31 and 32. Such sliding is inhibited becausethe two strips 31 and 32 forming the flat wire tend to spring together,not separately, into a helical configuration.

The compression on the inner strip 32 in each convolution of the windingresults from the fact that the neutral bending axis of the fiat wireformed "by the two strips is at the interface of the two strips. FIG.shows how this can be avoided by subjecting each of two flat strips 60and 61 separately to the kind of treatment described in connection withFIGS. 2, 4 or 5. Thus, for example, the strip 60 is passed between afirst pair of opposed rolls 62 and then through a second pair of opposedrolls 63 which may be revolved by a ring 64. When the second pairs ofrolls 63 is revolved, the characteristic resiliently permanent twistedconfiguration is imparted to the section 60A of the strip 60 between thepairs of rolls 62 and 63. As this is being done, the other strip 61 ispassed in a similar manner between first and second pairs of rolls 66and 67 respectively, the latter of which can be revolved by a ring 68 tocreate an intermediate twisted action 61A in the strip.

After the strips 60 and 61 are withdrawn forcibly from their respectivesecond pairs of rolls 63 and 67, they are both restrained from returningfully to their resiliently permanent shape. At the same time, they arebrought together in a superimposed relation to form a laminated flatwire which is helically wrapped under applied tension about a rotatablenon-revolvable core 70 to form a multilayered winding 71. In the winding71, the strips 60 and 61 forming the fiat wire do not tend to snap intothe same helical shape together, but rather they tend to returnseparately to their own respective helical configurations. Thus, theinner strip 61 in the winding 71 is capable of sliding against the strip60 that small amount required to relieve compression which couldotherwise buckle the inner strip 61.

The method and product of FIG. 10 is open to all the features describedhereinbefore except that each strip is separately worked upon up towinding about the core 70, and hence each strip tends to assume ahelical twist about its own axis extending therewithin rather than abouta single axis common to the laminated fiat wire formed by the strips.With these exceptions which eliminate buckling of the inner strip in thewinding turns, the FIG. 10 embodiment may be associated with any of thefeatures described previously with reference to FIGS. 1 through 9.

We claim:

1. A package of self-dischargeable wire comprising:

(a) an extended length of fiat wire helically wrapped into amulti-layered cylindrical winding with a plurality of helical turns ineach layer, said flat wire comprising:

(i) at least first and second fiat strips separably superimposedcompressively together in said winding, and

(ii) a plurality of elements on at least said first strip resilientlyflattened by said second strip in said winding and tending to springoutwardly from said first strip;

(b) said flat wire being possessed of considerable stored elastic energytending forcibly to produce a longitudinal twist in the flat wire aboutan axis extending therewithin so that the faces of the wire definehelical surfaces;

(0) restraining means for holding said winding in its cylindrical formand containing said stored elastic energy in said flat wire; wherebydisabling at least part of said restraining means permits said flat wireforcibly to produce said twist in itself progressively from some end tothe other and said flat wire hurls itself rapidly outwardly under thecumulative impulse of its own released energy and said strips thereofseparate to allow said elements to spring outwardly.

2. A package according to claim 1 wherein the elastic energy stored insaid flat wire tends forcibly to produce a longitudinal twist in each ofsaid fiat strips about respective axes extending within said strips sothat the faces of each strip define helical surfaces.

3. A package according to claim 1 wherein said plurality. of elementsare spaced longitudinally along said wire with alternate elementsattached to the respective first and second strips, each of saidelements tending to spring outwardly from the strip to which it isattached tovgard the opposite strip and being pointed at its outer en 4.A package according to claim 3 wherein each of said elements comprisestwo pointed portions extending in opposite directions longitudinallywith respect to its respective strip.

5. A package according to claim 3 wherein each of said elements isformed of fiat metal barbed along its edges.

6. A package according to claim 3 wherein each of said elements iswelded to that face of its respective strip which is opposed to theother of said strips.

7. A package according to claim 3 wherein each of said elementscomprises a partially cut out section of its respective strip.

8. A package of dischargeable fiat wire comprising:

(a) at least first and second fiat strips separably superimposedcompressively together and wound into a multi-layered winding,

(b) a plurality of elements on at least said first strip resilientlyflattened by said second strip in said winding and tending to springoutwardly from said first strip, whereby when said winding is unwoundsaid strips separate to allow said elements to spring outwardly.

9. A package according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of elements arespaced longitudinally along said wire with alternate elements attachedto the respective first and second strips, each of said elements tendingto spring outwardly from the strip to which it is attached toward theopposite strip and being pointed at its outer end.

10: A package according to claim 9 wherein each of said elementscomprises two pointed portions extending in opposite directionslongitudinally with respect to its respective strip.

11. A package according to claim 9 wherein each of said elements isformed of fiat metal barbed along its edges.

12. A package according to claim 9 wherein each of said elements iswelded to that face of its respective strip which is opposed to theother of said strips.

3,465,748 1 1 1 2 13. A package according to claim 9 wherein each2,654,321 10/1953 Robinson 102-63 of said elements comprises a partiallycut out section of 3,181,524 8/1962 Bratz. its respective strip.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,370,0362/1945 Howell 8936 3,001,354 9/1961 Davis s7-31 29 400; 72 371; 89-36;140-149; 242 159 UNITED S'lA'llCS PATENT OFFICE ClLRllllC/lllb OICORRECTION Patent No. 3 65, 7 3 Dated September 9 1969 hl l-. lm aw MMInvento g J- GilmOIG Gt 4 1t is eertiiied that error appears-Bin theabove-identified patent and that said LetLers Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Page 1, Column 1, line 34 "itself until virtually" should read itselfand discharge-- Page 1, Column 1, line 55 "features" should read-feature Page 1, Column 2, line 3 "diffiuclt" should read difficult Page2,- Column 3, line 55 "either" should read -neither-- Page 5, Column 9,line 40 "pairs" should read. -pair Page 5, Column 10, line 21 "sone"should read -one- SIGNED AND SEALED MAY 2 5.1970

(SEAL) Attest: EdvardMFlcw h- Attesting Offiw WILLIAM E. soaumm, .m.

' Comissione-r of Patents

8. A PACKAGE OF DISCHARGEABLE FLAT WIRE COMPRISING: (A) AT LEAST FIRSTAND SECOND FLAT STRIPS SEPARABLY SUPERIMPOSED COMPRESSIVELY TOGETHER ANDWOUND INTO A MULTI-LAYERED WINDING,